Indiana Governor Mike Braun issued a proclamation declaring May 5-9 Small Business Week in Indiana, celebrating the impact Hoosier entrepreneurs and small businesses have on the state’s economy and communities.
Indiana is home to more than 569,500 small businesses that support more than 1.2 million Hoosier jobs.
“As a long-time entrepreneur and business owner, recognizing this week as Small Business Week in Indiana is a celebration I value firsthand,” said Gov. Braun. “Indiana’s entrepreneurs and small business owners work tirelessly day in and day out and have had a tremendous impact on the state’s economy as well as the neighborhoods and people around them. We are excited to recognize the commitment of not only these seven small businesses, but of all our Hoosier innovators that are setting the stage for a better future for Indiana.”
Under Gov. Braun’s leadership, Indiana is focused on cultivating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. The state has been named No. 2 in the U.S. for starting a business by Forbes (2024) and was ranked as the No. 11 emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem in the U.S. in the latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report from Startup Genome. In June, Indiana will host 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC 2025), serving as only the second U.S. destination to host the event since the inaugural convention in 2009.
“Small Business Week in Indiana is the perfect time to honor the contributions of our countless Hoosier entrepreneurs and small businesses and to showcase our commitment to accelerating Main Street innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Secretary of Commerce David J. Adams. “The seven businesses being recognized this week exemplify the spirit and the impact of Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing critical services for residents and contributing to the health and vibrancy of their surrounding neighborhoods.”
This week, the state of Indiana is recognizing seven Hoosier small businesses that have worked with the Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a program of the state’s Commerce Office, to start, grow or pivot their small businesses. These awards, presented in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) National Small Business Week, honor the entrepreneurs' and small businesses' achievements and contributions to grow Indiana’s economy and strengthen communities across the state.
The 2025 honorees include:
Rural Small Business of the Year: 51 Bridges CrossFit
51 Bridges CrossFit in Rockville is more than a gym – it's a community inspiring health and wellness. After transforming their own lives through CrossFit, Jennifer and Mike Pendleton founded 51 Bridges CrossFit to help others do the same. The facility offers inclusive programs for all fitness levels, emphasizing functional movements and high-intensity workouts.
Gov. Mike Braun orders flags to half-staff for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Stay safe; always assume you are on ‘thin ice’
Local fire department gets new equipment
100% of Keystone Cooperative member profits returned to farmer-members
Former area newspaper owners ordered to pay in conspiracy case
County board committee dealing with animal control department issues
Niles Scream Park raises more than $153,300 for local groups
Three arrested by Lawrence County Sheriff's Department
Lawrence County Chamber honors several at annual banquet
Vehicle thefts on the rise across area
USPS asks public to clear snow and ice to help deliveries
Lawrence County arrests
IDNR releases first firearm deer season statistics
New Coach Curt Cignetti Indiana Hoosiers bobblehead unveiled with proceeds going to Riley Children’s Hospital
Tax abatement proposal moving forward
Lawrence County man sentenced on meth charges
Knox Co. agency among Duke Energy grants to support Hoosier veterans and their families
Vincennes recognized during Global Entrepreneurship Week
New CAO at Good Samaritan Hospital
